State-of-the-Art Shooter Detection
Boomerang pinpoints the shooter’s location of incoming small arms fire. Boomerang uses passive acoustic detection and computer-based signal processing to locate a shooter in less than a second.
Whether vehicle mounted or in a fixed position, Boomerang detects small arms fire travelling toward it for bullets passing within approximately 30 meters of the mast-mounted compact array of microphones, even when shooters are firing from maximum effective weapons ranges.
When vehicle mounted, Boomerang operates whether the vehicle is moving or stationary. Non-ballistic events, such as road bumps, door slams, wind noise, tactical radio transmissions, vehicle traffic, firecrackers and urban activity do not cause false alarms. The system also does not alert when shots are fired from the vehicle or the protected site.
Fast and reliable
Easy integration
Deployments
When a shot is detected, Boomerang immediately calls out; for example, “shot. two o’clock. 400 meters.” The o’clock position also appears on the dial while range and elevation appear on the LED display screen. When networked with a simple Ethernet connection, this information can be transmitted to an operations center or to a situation awareness platform.
Boomerang is easily networked and integrated with other software for enhanced battlefield management, situational awareness and force protection. Through its intuitive system integration kit and simple Ethernet interface, Boomerang can be used to slew camera devices, feed remote weapons station equipment, or report shooter position to a Tactical Operations Center.
Boomerang is available to U.S. military and law enforcement agencies and to municipalities as well as to other approved U.S. domestic and foreign organizations. Government contractors may incorporate Boomerang into their systems or platforms.
- Protecting the military vehicles of U.S. and allied troops
- Fixed site protection for FOBs (Forward Operation Bases) and checkpoints in Afghanistan
- Protecting critical infrastructure, such as power stations, in the U.S.
Boomerang Warrior-X wearable shooter detection system
Because our troops are most vulnerable when on foot without the cover of vehicles or buildings, Raytheon BBN developed Boomerang Warrior-X, a soldier wearable shooter detection system.
Boomerang Warrior-X provides immediate indication of hostile fire or sniper attack and localizes the shooter, or shooters, enabling a rapid, informed and coordinated response. The system offers the same reliable performance and features as the currently-fielded vehicle-mounted Boomerang III system — just smaller, lighter and integrated into tactical vests.
Weighing just 12 ounces, the Boomerang Warrior-X gives individual soldiers immediate awareness of hostile fire locations and, when integrated, can also provide unit leaders with shooter grid coordinates to enhance situational awareness needed to coordinate team responses to hostile fire.
Incoming shot announcements are transmitted to a built-in speaker or an earpiece while a lightweight display provides range and azimuth of the shooter position. As the soldier moves, the system compensates for the soldier’s motion and continually updates the threat’s location on the wrist display.
Praise from warfighters
Boomerang has received unqualified praise from warfighters:
“On behalf of [my unit] I would like to express my thanks . . . [This is] the most dangerous terrain in this country. [Boomerang] will no doubt save lives in the future. I thank you all for your support. 'Semper Fidelis'.” – U.S. Marine NBC and Force Protection Officer
“[Boomerang] worked great for the Marines on post when they received fire from multiple directions [and] when just a few rounds are fired. [Without Boomerang] it is difficult to pinpoint where you’re getting shot at from in an urban environment because of the echoes from the buildings and within the post.” – U.S. Marine Executive Officer
“[Boomerang] has been very useful to date depending upon the contact. When we first arrived, we had a sniper threat to the posts. The enemy ramped up and came in larger numbers with heavier weapons, and changed our fight for the last two months.... He has since started to engage with snipers [again], and we are glad to have the Boomerang in helping us defend against this threat.” – U.S. Marine Executive Officer
